Morristown police director: ‘Floyd murder sickens me’; council fast-tracks outdoor dining for pandemic relief

Morristown Public Safety Director Michael Corcoran Jr. addresses council via Zoom, June 9, 2020. Screenshot by Kevin Coughlin
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On the day when George Floyd was laid to rest in Texas, the Morristown council heard a report on efforts by town police to minimize bias and the use of force.

“I think his murder has shook all of us to the core. As a 30-year veteran of law enforcement, his death sickens me,” said town Public Safety Director Michael Corcoran Jr., pausing during his annual presentation to remember Floyd, the unarmed, handcuffed black man who died under the knee of a Minneapolis policeman on Memorial Day.

“Every officer that I’ve spoken with is as disgusted as I am… no one despises a bad cop more than a good cop,”

Over the last year Morristown police have increased public outreach and boosted training, Corcoran said. Choke holds have been banned, and 18 pages of guidelines on the use of force are stricter than the state’s own policy, he said.

“Members of the police and fire bureau realize… that we have to earn our badge every day. And the only way you do that is by treating people fairly and with dignity and respect,” Corcoran said.

At Tuesday’s meeting the council also unanimously adopted a $52.5 million budget on Tuesday that avoids tax hikes by tapping surplus funds.

Council members passed another resolution to streamline approvals for restaurants and bars to expand outdoor operations next week, as authorized by Gov. Phil Murphy as he re-opens New Jersey from the pandemic shutdown.

Also, the council pushed back the deadline for restaurant license renewals until September 30, and hired a financial firm for advice regarding tax breaks sought by builders of two Morris Street redevelopment projects, the M Station office complex and The Revolution apartments.

PREPARING FOR SIDEWALK DINING

Restaurants and bars seeking sidewalk cafe permits can bypass council approvals for this season. Instead, Administrator Jillian Barrick may issue permits after review by appropriate departments, such as zoning, health and police.

The council agreed to this arrangement to help downtown businesses rebound from the pandemic shutdown, in accordance with the governor’s authorization of expanded outdoor dining. The state also has created a process for bars to receive special state permits to serve liquor outdoors.

But Council President Stefan Armington and Councilman Robert Iannaccone insisted on removing one section of the café resolution that would have allowed the administration to enact further measures without the council.

The passage would have allowed the administrator, with advice from town Attorney Vij Pawar, to waive other parts of the town code and “enact such other regulations as are appropriate to maintain order, enhance public safety and to help the Town’s restaurants during this global health crisis.”

“It’s an extremely open-ended granting of executive power, which essentially eliminates in my view any checks and balances that the council has on the power of the mayor and the administration. It also eliminates all public input into any
future regulations, presumably through the end of 2020, that the administration chooses to enact,” Armington said.

Iannaccone acknowledged the need to help business owners immediately, but said the measure was  “overly broad” and stripped the public’s ability to comment and the council’s authority to do “what we were elected to do.”

The passage was removed.

BUDGETS AND PILOTS

In other business, the town budget passed with little discussion. At the last meeting, Barrick described funding uncertainties caused by the coronavirus crisis. The spending plan taps $4.4 million in surplus money, to avoid tax increases for residents dealing with their own financial issues during the pandemic.

Depleting reserves is not something towns like to do, Iannaccone said, but “if you’re going to do that, this is the time that we should be doing that.”

The council also authorized hiring Nassau Capital Advisors LLC to advise them on “payments in lieu of taxes” sought by developers of M Station and The Revolution (formerly dubbed The LW, for “Live/Work”).

Known as PILOTs, these payments go directly to town coffers, typically over 30 years. They eliminate taxes paid to the Morris School District.

Developers of hotels, offices and luxury apartments have defended this practice by saying their projects don’t generate school-age children. Critics say everyone benefits from strong public education, and Morristown’s granting of PILOTs has become an issue in recent elections.

The council set a $75,000 cap on the town’s contract with Nassau Capital, with maximum hourly rates of $335 an hour for Managing Director Robert S. Powell Jr., and $290 for Gerry Doherty.

Taxpayers won’t foot this bill; the developers seeking the tax breaks will pay from their projects’ escrow accounts.

POLICE AND FIRE, BY THE NUMBERS

Overall, crime in Morristown declined by seven percent last year, and by 61 percent over the last decade, Corcoran told the council. Traffic accidents declined by more than 5 percent in 2019, as 625 summonses were issued, Corcoran continued.

Goals this year include further reductions in accidents, with an emphasis on pedestrian safety.  Corcoran said he hopes to partner again with TransOptions, a transportation agency that has provided grants for prior public safety campaigns.

The police bureau, with 57 officers, four civilians and nine special officers, answered 45,000 calls for service, and wrote nearly 250  “quality of life” tickets for excessive noise, disorderly conduct, and drinking and urinating in public last year.

That downtown enforcement will continue, Corcoran said, aided by a police bike patrol that’s been beefed up with seven officers in the saddle, he said.

In his presentation, Corcoran also outlined steps police have taken to up their game.

Morristown police ‘Fair and Impartial Policing’ steps, presented to Morristown Council on June 9, 2020. Screenshot by Kevin Coughlin

Over the last year, Morristown police have discussed potential biases with the Morris Area Interfaith Clergy Council, attended training on “fair and impartial policing” at Centenary University, and implemented strict use-of-force guidelines, Corcoran said.

As the pandemic subsides, Corcoran said, he is hopeful the police bureau will achieve accreditation this year by the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police. He views it as another to step to enhance professionalism, a goal he outlined when Morristown hired him in 2018.

Morristown police mission statement, presented to Morristown Council on June 9, 2020. Screenshot by Kevin Coughlin

Morristown police were the first in Morris County outfitted with body cams, Corcoran said. The bureau has stepped up community outreach and minority recruitment via social media, “coffee with a cop” sessions (before the coronavirus), a charity basketball tournament and an open house, he said.

Together with Acting Police Chief Darnell Richardson, he is exploring creation of a “Citizens Police Academy” next year to familiarize residents with police operations. Corcoran and Richardson also continue to envision a police satellite office at the Marion Sally Recreation Center.

More numbers:

The fire bureau comprises 34 paid firefighters, one civilian and 18 volunteers. They answered 1,800 calls for service last year, and their community outreach included delivering holiday toys to the Goryeb Children’s Center.

During this spring’s pandemic, Fire Chief Robert Flanagan also provided masks for residents.

Increased training with firefighters from neighboring “mutual aid” towns is planned, Corcoran said.

Morristown Public Safety Goals for 2020,presented to Morristown Council on June 9, 2020. Screenshot by Kevin Coughlin

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2 COMMENTS

  1. Food for thought…In 2 years the DPS gets a 6.75% raise. That’s more of a percentage than the cops got in 5 years. The BA salary has increased about 50k in 8 years. Both are in the top 5% of their Morris County competitors salary. Meanwhile MPD officers make less than all but one municipal police agency. We are the hub of Morris County, yet our police officers are at the bottom of our county competitors.
    As far as M-Station, another attempt at pulling a fast one, the developer is now asking for a PILOT and the people are now paying a firm to negotiate the terms. A key talking point of the the town planner, while presenting the proposal to the public and council, was there will be NO PILOT sought.

  2. Public safety director forgot to mention his 5% raise, bringing him to $150,000, plus brand new take home car and gas… All for a political position that is completely unnecessary. The Business Administrators salary is also top tier for the state…

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